Vikatan Talkies production 'Valmiki' is frivolous and seriously lacks content to keep us interested in the movie.

'Kallori' fame Akhil and Meera Nandhan share a good on screen chemistry while Badava Gopi plays a sensible character of a retarded man who changes over a new leaf. Actually, all this is being said at the start because apart from this the film has nothing to boast of. The story is simply nowhere to be found and it's disappointing when it comes from the stable of director Shankar's assistant, Anantha Narayanan.

The low class stealer Pandi (Akhil) makes a living out of pick pocketing and has no prominent goal in life. He lives for the day and doesn't care about the sorrow of others who loses their money to him. Our typical Tamil heroine who has no other work to do but to serve the misfortunate Vandana (Meera Nandhan) becomes prey to his petty act and loses her chain. But, once again as usual the naive girl believes him to be a gentleman and falls in love with him!

Pandi has a crush on the high class girl who runs a kinder garden school for children and on the other hand, flower seller Kanaga (Devika) loves Pandi one sided without his knowledge. The narration goes on to reveal Pandi's true identity to Vandhana and what else our heroine is going to do except to reform the bad doer for good. She does just the thing and the film ends with a message!

This is where the director annoys everyone as 'Valmiki' neither entertains nor conveys a proper message for the audience. Musical score by Ilayaraja is just ok and the song 'Ennada Pandi' might sound good to some while it seriously irks others. Cinematography by Azhagappan is another ok aspect for the film.

Akhil did a laudable performance in his first film as a debutant but this time he looks weary and not in a mood to act. Maybe the script tired him as much as it did us. Meera Nandhan, the new girl from Kerala looks good and acts neat. Devika and Badava Gopi are simple in the supporting roles.

What Irks big time is the snail paced narration where nothing happens except the heroine showering with advices to change him for good. And, it is unforgivable to usher in a scene that has no prominence at all in the namesake of the girl's flashback. What did she try to convey through it? Only god knows and maybe the director. The plot is not interesting and the weary scenes make it a lackluster treatment offering no good reason to get riveted.

'Valmiki' is a bad head start for debutant Anantha Narayanan for it lacks almost in every department leaving us bored to the

Verdict: Is Not Engaging